Waverly Novels [Series Title]
Title
Waverly Novels [Series Title]
Creator
Sir Walter Scott
Publisher
Edinburgh: Printed for Robert Cadell / London: Whittaker & Co.
Date
1829-1833
1st edition, Magnum Opus
Description
[We have a near complete set of 1st edition, 1st or 2nd printings of the Magnum Opus. Two books from the set were photographed]:
Some of our books are rebacked or completely rebound, but in both cases, as much of the original red cloth (as seen on unaltered bindings) was saved and used. The weave of the cloth is either a leaf pattern or a plain linen-weave.
The rebacked books have a leather spine with a paper label including the title and volume information in black lettering, while the unrebound books have the original leather insert that has the title and volume number gilt stamped, and two narrow gilt lines at the top and bottom. The rebound books have the original red cloth glued onto new cloth covers.
Some of the books have plain endpapers that match the rag paper of the rest of the book while others have patterned white and orange wood pulp paper added.
The frontispiece and title page vignette are the only illustrations in the books, and given the tightness of the lines and density of the composition, they are likely to have been cut on new technology, steel-plates. There is off-bleeding from both these images backwards and forwards to pages nearby.
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Some of our books are rebacked or completely rebound, but in both cases, as much of the original red cloth (as seen on unaltered bindings) was saved and used. The weave of the cloth is either a leaf pattern or a plain linen-weave.
The rebacked books have a leather spine with a paper label including the title and volume information in black lettering, while the unrebound books have the original leather insert that has the title and volume number gilt stamped, and two narrow gilt lines at the top and bottom. The rebound books have the original red cloth glued onto new cloth covers.
Some of the books have plain endpapers that match the rag paper of the rest of the book while others have patterned white and orange wood pulp paper added.
The frontispiece and title page vignette are the only illustrations in the books, and given the tightness of the lines and density of the composition, they are likely to have been cut on new technology, steel-plates. There is off-bleeding from both these images backwards and forwards to pages nearby.
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Sir Walter Scott is famous for his historical novels, usually set in Scotland, but his most widely read book today, Ivanhoe, is set in Medieval England at the time of King Richard the Lionheart. Scott is called the 'father of the historical novel.' Although Scott is known for duing historial research for his novels, he was not always accurate.
In 1826 there was a financial collapse in the book world and Sir Walter found himself in debt becuase he was a large investor in his own publisher's business. He "wrote" himself out of debt by creating the Magnum Opus of all his previous writings (48 volumes) to which he added extensive annotations and historical background ("illustrations') for the plot of each novel. His phenomenal effort was succesful, but destroyed his health and led to his death in 1832 before he had completed the last nine volumes. His son-in-law and biographer, J.G. Lockhart took Scott's notes and completed the series.
The original print run of the Magnum Opus was 7,000 copies, but in 1830, demand increased production and many of our volumes come from this 2nd printing.
Scott lived from 1771-1832.
In 1826 there was a financial collapse in the book world and Sir Walter found himself in debt becuase he was a large investor in his own publisher's business. He "wrote" himself out of debt by creating the Magnum Opus of all his previous writings (48 volumes) to which he added extensive annotations and historical background ("illustrations') for the plot of each novel. His phenomenal effort was succesful, but destroyed his health and led to his death in 1832 before he had completed the last nine volumes. His son-in-law and biographer, J.G. Lockhart took Scott's notes and completed the series.
The original print run of the Magnum Opus was 7,000 copies, but in 1830, demand increased production and many of our volumes come from this 2nd printing.
Scott lived from 1771-1832.
Subject
Literature
Identifier
SPECIAL PR5315 1829 v.1, 3-26, 28-48
Format
Hardcover books, 7 x 4.5 inches or 6.5 x 4.5 inches
Language
English
Relation
This book can be seen in the photograph, Display Case 3.
Original Format
Book
Collection
Citation
Sir Walter Scott, “Waverly Novels [Series Title],” Beautiful Books in Flagler College's Special Collections, accessed May 16, 2024, https://beautifulbooks.omeka.net/items/show/137.